DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Fifteen people were injured when a Brightline train hit a fire truck in downtown Delray Beach today (Dec. 28, 2024), splitting the ladder truck into two parts.
The collision occurred about 10:45 a.m. While initial reports placed it near East Atlantic Avenue — the main thoroughfare through downtown — and Railroad Avenue, it was actually a block away at Southeast First Street. That grade crossing does not have quad gates, unlike Atlantic Avenue.
Three firefighters from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck have been hospitalized and are in stable condition, the City of Delray Beach said in a press release. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue assisted in the incident and transported 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, in a paywalled article, reports that Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin said two of the firefighters were transported as trauma alerts in serious condition. They are now stable but will “likely have prolonged admission at the hospital,” Martin said.
Passengers on the train were evacuated onto a new train shortly after 12:30 p.m., the newspaper reports.
Delray Beach police, the National Transportation Safety Board, and Brightline officials are investigating, the city said.
As of 4:30 p.m. CT, Brightline’s website indicates at least two trains have been cancelled this afternoon, with others showing delays of up to four hours. As of 7:45 p.m. CT, the company shows delays on upcoming southbound departures from Orlando and West Palm Beach. The company has posted video on X.com from the train’s forward-facing camera showing the moments before the collision with a message urging drivers to “never drive around crossing gates when they are down.”
— Updated at 8 p.m. CT with new information, including Brightline posting of on-train video; updated Dec. 29 at 9:45 p.m. to correct grade crossing where collision occurred.
Tragic collision between a fire truck and the brightline in Delray Beach. Apparently the firemen were responding to a car collision. Always sad how car culture and vehicular violence can cause compounding tragedy. pic.twitter.com/k4WKiImVZR
— Ethan Kent (@ebkent) December 28, 2024
